G-5 TEAMS ON MAJOR CHANNELS: 2016-23: ESPN + OTA Networks A key problem for G-5 schools is that even if they play great + fun football, most people don't see it because they're not on the main TV channels. The OTA networks and main ESPN drive viewership, and we don't see enough G-5 teams on there. My hope is that future G-5 TV deals can be crafted using innovative things like weeknights, Week Zero games, holiday weekends, etc. to get their teams on the big boy channels so that people see. It's also important for them to play teams that can get them bigger stages with bigger audiences. Here's how many Nielsen-rated games the top forward-aligned G-5 schools played on major channels since 2016:
@TJAltimore Can Toledo leave the MAC? Conference has been around since 1946 and not a single team to be found on this chart!
@TJAltimore Still doesn’t tell the full story. You have to consider opponents. Wasssu won’t be up there once they stop playing PAC teams. USF is still up there despite playing programs in the American, and would far exceed that when playing P5 opponents
@TJAltimore About half as many people have ESPN U and CBS Sports Network as ESPN. But I'd still say it is not like no one is seeing those games. Maybe not casuals, but all serious sports fans would have those channels.
@TJAltimore So what you're saying is if you put @BeaverFootball and @WSUCougarFB on a major broadcast station people will watch. It was proven this year with @BeaverFootball in the top 30 of most watch college team. DIVE IN WITH 2 TEAMS @netflix @AppleTV @amazon Save the👇
@TJAltimore WSU shouldn’t be there they weren’t G5 during that period